Fish finders in the Drift Boat

Rustyoar · 12-23-2003, 08:48 AM

Anyone have any comment on these Bottom Line Fishin' Buddy 1200 I have no experience with them. But recently got one. How do they work from a DB? In faster H2O, I would think they work well in the froggie water but how about the more shallow water? This is the kind that is hand held and it has a holder that it can be removed from.

Thanks

stevo · 12-23-2003, 09:25 AM

Rusty, I got one for my birthday this year and love it, first time out with it got my first springer! OK, that was probably just coincidence, but I find it works very well. Couple of points to remember:
1. The bracket is stout, but not unbreakable, the boom can get quite a bit of drag in fast water. Mine has never slipped or showed sign of moving, but also i don't push it.
2. Put a leash on it. Should the bracket fail, a leash will get you the spendy part back.
3. I mounted a length of 2" PVC in my boat, with the flared bell end up, as a holster for my FB1200. It works great, keeps it out of the way and protects the transducer from klutz's (me!)
I have not used it drifting, only while on the kicker in the Willy and Columbia and on lakes. Deadly for trout and Kokanee trolling with a downrigger. Good luck.

Smily · 12-23-2003, 09:28 AM

Hi RustyOar,
I have one and they work great in the bay for crabbing or big rivers. If I'm drifting i don't even bother. I'm afraid of leaving it in and forgeting to pull it out in a rapid situation. They also don't read very well with current. They do have there purpose though.

:smile: Smily :smile:

LimitLess1 · 12-23-2003, 10:01 AM

I've had a Fishin Buddy II for about 6 years, and it works great. The first time I used it was for Springers on the Columbia. Trolled for an hour with the current with cut-plug, and saw the bottom of the river only, no fish. I was just commenting to my partner, "not sure if this works that great" when I heard a beep, looked at the screen, saw a fish about 4' off the bottom, then my rod went nuts. Trolling downstream with the fish running upstream, it took out about 150 yards of line, before we got the boat turned around, then it threw the hook. We did get one later that day off the mouth of the Kalama. Which brings me to my first of two words of caution.

1:When it says you are in only 2 feet of water and getting shallower, believe it !. We found a sand bar by not believing the depth reading.

2: The Fishin Buddy floats, but the bracket doesn't, and can slip off a drift boat, as mine did in the upper Willamette.

An interesting feature of these is the side-finder feature where you can look sideways and find fish. Other than that, not sure why I would use mine again in a shallow river situation. Two much other gear to worry about in a crowded boat.

Boatdog · 12-23-2003, 01:36 PM

There is a Bottomline Fishin' Buddy 1200 for sale in the boats and tackle classifieds at $75.00.

Rustyoar · 12-23-2003, 01:43 PM

Ya I saw it too late for me, besides it was a early christmas gift.

AnnaDraMoss · 12-23-2003, 07:12 PM

If you have a fiberglass DB you can shoot the transducer right through the floor :grin: :grin: :grin:

River Ranger · 12-23-2003, 07:40 PM

I have a Garmin in my drift boat.The transducer is hooked to a transducer bracket that fishermans sells.the bracket clamps on to the gunnel,When rapids approach it just tilts up then back down.Love it.
R.R.